2007 Article
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Fighting the Good Fight Against the Silent Killer-- The Story of Major Warren Harvey
By Ms. Patrice Mauck-Messer, ARNG Decade of Health Correspondent Background
He seemed to have it all: a great career, a pretty wife, bright twin teenage boys, a 3-year-old, and two accomplished adult daughters. Slim, fit, broad-shouldered, he was 42 years old, but looked a decade and a half younger…. the picture of health. But it was an illusion-because he was harboring a silent killer, high blood pressure.
This is the story of Major Warren Harvey, a Soldier in The Army National Guard…a seemingly healthy man until he went for a routine dental exam in November 2005. He was preparing for deployment to New Orleans in the horrendous aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. On that day, his life and all his plans changed. Major Harvey had dangerously high blood pressure: 190 over 110. He was reading too high for deployment-even too high for dental treatment-and the hygienist instructed him to see his physician immediately. He was at high risk for having a stroke at any moment. Story
An “Army brat” born in Wurzburg, Germany, Major Harvey grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas in a medical family. His father was a physician’s assistant, his mother a nurse. He went to college at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and then on to Baptist Medical System in North Little Rock, becoming a surgical scrub technician. When Warren joined the Army National Guard in March 1989, he was working as a scrub technician in his civilian 9-5 job and as an infantry officer during his ARNG weekends and summer weeks of active duty.
When Major Harvey, now 43, received his devastating, life threatening diagnosis, his wife, Sharon, swung into action. Married four and a half years now, a second marriage for both, Sharon has made an extraordinary effort to change her family’s eating habits - to possibly prolong her husband’s life - and to improve the quality of life for her autistic twin sons. Sharon marched into the Ft. Belvoir, VA commissary with her mind made up to eliminate as much sugar, salt, and processed foods from her family’s diet as possible. She became a devout label reader and diligently searched health and wellness websites on the computer. Fried foods, a family favorite, were virtually eliminated from their diet. The deep fryer was consigned to the garbage, and shrimp tempura along with chicken nuggets, became beloved staples of the past. Fresh fruit at every meal, without exception, has replaced sugary desserts. Sharon plans meals with lots of fresh vegetables, never canned, and lots of grilled chicken, always skinless. She still makes the occasional lasagna, but now the ingredients include very lean meat and part skim milk mozzarella and ricotta cheeses. And she still makes stuffing, but doesn’t use butter, instead stirring in the broth left over from cooking the chicken. All canned soups and bouillon have been jettisoned due to the exorbitantly high sodium content; she opts instead to make her own fresh vegetable soups. Sharon strives to be very creative and cutting-edge in her meal planning, shopping, and cooking. Her mind and eyes are always open to healthy, innovative ways to flavor food without butter and salt. The family still loves potatoes, but Sharon discovered “Golden Potatoes” in the commissary - whole, fresh potatoes grown with a “natural” butter flavor. At first the couple experimented with various types of light dressings and vinaigrettes, but now Warren likes his salads better with no dressing at all. Snacks are dried fruits and nuts, and for dessert, a special treat: Sharon’s signature “Date Nut Bars” (see recipe below). Warren loves them, saying, “I’ve probably eaten my weight in dates during the past year.” Major Harvey’s lifestyle and daily routines have changed dramatically also. A typical day begins at 4:30 am when the alarm goes off and he swallows a small cup of pills prepared the night before and left on his night stand: blood pressure medication, a blood thinner, an allergy pill and a multi-vitamin. Breakfast consists of orange juice and sometimes oatmeal with raisins. He commutes from the family home in Ft. Belvoir, VA, to the National Guard Readiness Center in Arlington every morning, arriving at approximately 5:30 am. Warren begins his day at the gym where his workout regimen includes 2 ½ miles on the treadmill, push-ups, sit-ups and core-body exercises. By 7:00 am he’s at his desk, working at his job as an ARNG G-3 Assignment Officer. At noon, he eats a lunch chosen and packed by his wife: typically leftover chicken, golden potatoes, grilled asparagus, a bag of celery, bottled water, sparkling water or juice, and watermelon. Sharon makes every effort to keep the salt content of his meals as low as possible - no more than two grams per day. Late afternoon finds Major Harvey heading out for the hour-long commute back home. There he tries to give Sharon a break by spending time with their 16-year-old boys, Mickey and Desi, and helping to prepare dinner. His specialty is cutting up all the fruit; cantaloupe, melon, pears and plums are favorites. The family’s typical dinner is grilled chicken breasts or lean meat, rice or potatoes, fresh vegetables and fruit. The couple rarely eats bread, as the boys must adhere to a gluten-free diet. The Harveys spend the early evening feeding and bathing the boys, and putting them to bed by 7 p.m. They then have a few hours together before Major Harvey goes to bed at 10:00 p.m. If he feels like a snack, it’s usually a few almonds. Though the family no longer eats real ice cream, Sharon has discovered low-fat, sugar-free ice cream sandwiches at her local bulk, discount grocery store. They’re made with skim milk, and each has only 140 calories, 1.5 grams fat, and no trans fats. Major Harvey’s personal story was the inspiration behind the 2007 ARNG Decade of Health blood pressure campaign, Get Cuffed! But now that his blood pressure is under control, the 2008 Decade of Health weight management campaign, “Lighten Up!” resonates with him also. “There’s a direct correlation between blood pressure and weight,” he said. “If you have high blood pressure, you must keep your weight under control. If you don’t have high blood pressure, you still need to keep your weight under control as a preventive measure.” Major Harvey, though slim and fit looking, emphasizes that he works to keep his weight under 170, which is well below the Army Physical Fitness Test maximum standard for his height/weight/age profile. Sharon Harvey is quick to agree that weight management is one of the highest priorities on the Harvey family health goals list. Their new healthy eating plan has impacted very positively on their teenage boys. In the past, when Sharon was working, a family member helped care for the boys and “they got kind of chubby” on fast food, especially chicken nuggets. The family member moved away, and Sharon eliminated all processed foods from the boys’ diets. They’re now at a much healthier weight. Major Harvey concurs: “the healthy diet Sharon has created has made a huge difference for the boys. Even the way they behave is better - they’re calmer.” When asked if his new, healthier lifestyle will help improve the current and future health of his children, Major Harvey says that he “would like to think it will. When they see me pick up new healthy habits, I’m hoping they will too.” However, the road to a new level of health for Major Harvey hasn’t always been smooth. The first few days after taking the high blood pressure medication, “I felt fatigued,” says Major Harvey, “and I had to take a couple days off from work and the gym. But after that, I guess my body regulated itself, and now I feel the same as I ever did. I feel great now.” Major Harvey monitors his blood pressure on a regular basis, but listens to his body, and gets cuffed immediately if he is uncertain about his blood pressure status. Some months ago, Major Harvey developed a blood clot in his leg, and had to go on blood thinners. “This had a significant impact on me,” he said, “I don’t have the stamina I used to have-I can’t run as far.” High blood pressure, known as hypertension, lies dormant in many Americans, including Soldiers. According to the American Heart Association, one out of three adults is at risk, but hypertension is a very manageable health condition. The anxiety and stress that comes with deployment and combat readiness is enough to coax blood pressure to above average levels. These stressors along with heredity, poor eating habits, smoking, or limited exercise, increase the risk and incidence of high blood pressure significantly. High blood pressure, if left undetected and untreated, can lead to heart disease, stroke, and other debilitating conditions. In the words of Major Harvey, “All Soldiers need to know their blood pressure numbers. So many Soldiers are coming back from Iraq with high blood pressure. Even if it can’t be cured, it can be treated. It’s vital that all Soldiers get cuffed. Getting cuffed is the first step to early detection and is key to getting effective treatment.” For those who theorize that your “DNA is destiny”, Major Harvey comments “Black males in my family have a history of diabetes, high blood pressure, and colon cancer.” But due to timely intervention, Warren and Sharon Harvey hope to dodge these genetic bullets. It’s obvious Sharon has made a Herculean start to design a new healthy lifestyle for her family. But when asked about this, she is characteristically modest, saying “You’ve seen my wonderful husband…I love him very much and I love my kids…why wouldn’t I do everything possible to keep them around for a very long time?” And when asked what advice she would give other military wives and mothers, she takes a “Rome wasn’t built in a day” approach: “Start slow…try to change one bad nutritional habit at a time…walk a few blocks before you attempt miles…don’t try to do it all at once.” So do it, “Get Cuffed!” Why fall prey to high blood pressure, the silent killer, unnecessarily? The detection process is painless and quick, and treatments are readily available. Make an appointment for a reading and get a free blood pressure check up. Know your numbers know what they mean, and take action as recommended by your healthcare provider. The more you know about your body, the better you can take care of it - just ask the Harveys. Footnote to story: The couple each has a daughter from former marriages: Brittany (18) and Rhiannon (28) married to a Navy serviceman. They have a son, Alex, almost three years old. Harvey Family Recipes:
APPLE WALNUT BARS
Preparation Time: 20 minutes Servings: 8 servings Ingredients:
Instructions:
DATE NUT BARS Preparation Time: 20 Minutes Servings: 8 servings Ingredients:
Instructions:
Great for breakfast, a snack at work, or school and a nutritious substitute for candy bars. ----------------------------------------------- If you or someone you know is battling high blood pressure, refer to these online resources for assistance and information: • ARNG Decade of Health-2007 Get Cuffed! Campaign • The American Heart/American Stroke Association • The National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute • Center for Disease Control and Prevention • High Blood Pressure • Blood Pressure-Your Body's Warning Lights • Preventing High Blood Pressure • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Health Care Benefits and Services Click here to view the original article, "Are You Harboring A Silent Killer?©" written about Major Harvey. |